On Monday, February 5th, 2018, victims, survivors, and their loved ones gathered at the Georgia Capitol with legislators, MADD Georgia Staff, and community partners to honor lives lost to the violent crime of drunk and drugged driving. Many of those in attendance were personally affected by the tragedy of losing loved ones to this senseless and 100% preventable crime.
The purpose of Under the Dome Day is to highlight victim families and to bring awareness to the continuing increase in fatalities and injuries due to alcohol-impaired-driving crashes. In 2015, Georgia saw its first increase in the number of DUI fatalities since 2008, and fatalities have increased each year since then.
Georgia continues to be a leader in alcohol-impaired-driving crash fatalities, with 368 deaths in 2016. Each year, 24% of all traffic fatalities in Georgia are the result of alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.
Angela Blank, MADD Georgia State Advisory Council Member, began the press conference with a moment of silence to honor those killed or injured on Georgia’s roadways, as well as Georgians who were killed or injured outside of the state.
Angie Blank, MADD Georgia State Advisory Council Member, led MADD Georgia’s Under the Dome Day Press Conference at the Georgia Capitol on February 5, 2018.
Attendees heard poignant remarks from Representative Sharon Cooper – 43rd District, who encouraged those in attendance to keep up their efforts and dedication to keeping our roads and communities safe.
Representative Sharon Cooper – 43rd District addresses the crowd during the Under the Dome Day 2018 Press Conference.
Pete J. Skandalakis, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, offered remarks on the continued need to address the increase in alcohol-impaired-driving across the state. Mr. Skandalakis will provide the keynote address at the 14th Annual Golden Shield Honors on April 10, 2018.
Pete Skandalakis, the Executive Director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, spoke at MADD Georgia’s Press Conference at the Georgia Capitol on February 5, 2018.
Amy Sands, MADD Georgia State Advisory Council Member, shared her story of how a drunk and drugged driving crash changed her life. Her son, Tyler Sands, was killed on his 22nd birthday. Sands made a poignant plea to the audience stating that “we need to keep going until this 100% preventable crime is eliminated.”
Amy Sands, MADD Georgia State Advisory Council Member, shared her story of the loss of her son, Tyler Sands, to a drunk driving crash and the need to put an end to this tragic and 100% preventable crime.
Attendees also heard from MADD Volunteer, Lesa Romeo, who was personally impacted by a drunk driving crash that forever changed her family’s life. In 2007, a single drunk driving crash took the lives of her mother, Avannah Fortenberry, and her mother’s best friend Gladys Smith. The crash also seriously injured her brother Don Fortenberry. Lesa is an active volunteer for MADD Georgia and shares her family’s story at MADD Georgia’s Victim Impact Panels to promote MADD’s mission to keep these senseless tragedies from occurring.
Lesa Romeo addresses the crowd at the 2018 Under the Dome Day Press Conference.
Senator Donzella James delivered a rousing speech highlighting the tragic effect that drunk and drugged driving has on families across Georgia every single year. Senator James’ son Kerry was killed by a drunk driver in 1993. As a Georgia legislator, Senator James has been instrumental in passing legislation to improve the safety of Georgia’s roads and to increase the penalties for offenders driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Senator Donzella James delivers a passionate speech about the tragedy drunk and drugged driving causes families every year in Georgia.
MADD Georgia State Executive Director Debbie Day concluded the 2018 Under the Dome Day Press Conference with a call to action, “It is vital that our legislative body build upon HB205 and work towards enacting an all-offender law in upcoming legislative sessions.”
Debbie Day, State Executive Director of MADD Georgia, concludes the 2018 Under the Dome Day Press Conference.
The Georgia State Office of Mothers Against Drunk Driving will hold a Statewide Candlelight Vigil on March 24, 2018 from 1-3pm at Springfield Baptist Church in Conyers, GA to honor and remember lives lost and families forever changed by drunk and drugged driving crashes.
